Device for converting snow or ice into water.



Patented oct. 3, |899.

No.` 634mm.

K i E.- us. PALMER. DE.\{ ICE4 FDR CUNVEHTING SNDW 0R I'CEINTUWATEB.

(Appicntion lsd Nov. 19, 1898.)

(lo lnde'l.)

E. 5 E W W/ A www m. W m m n m m w m UNITED STATES APATENT OFFICE.

EMILY STRAYEE PALMER, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS'.

DEVICE FOR CONVERTING SVNOW OR ICE INTO vWATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part'of Letters Patent o.`63`4`,021, dated October 3, 1899. Application tiled November 1B, 1898. Serial No. 696,854. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom zit may concern.-

Be it known that LEMILY STRAYER PA'LMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful lmprovements in Devices for Converting Snow or Ice into Water, of which the following is a specification. l

The object of my invention is to provide a device to assist in removing snow or ice from the streets in an expeditious and economical manner.

The invention consists of a receptacle for the snow or ice, in combination with a heating system Wherebythe snow or ice is converted into Water and conveyed while in the liquid state to a suitable and convenient place.

The invention further consists in certain details of construction and arrangeinentof` Like numerals or letters refer to like parts throughout the several views thereof.

In the drawings, A is a boiler or heater ofV anydesired construction or type. B is a tank or receptacle into which the snow is thrown, said tank and boiler being carried fromplace to place upon a wagon or sled, the top of which is indicated at A'. Said tank B con siste of a reservoir C, having a top D, formed with inwardly and downwardly extending flanges E, the loweredge of said flanges being shown.

connected by a netting F, the upper edges of said flanges being turned over to rest upon the top of the sides of the tank B. Y

The boiler A is connected by a pipe G to one end of a coil H, said coil being placed above the water-line in the boiler and below the screen F. AA return-pipe I connects the other end of the coil H with the boiler, as An overflow-pipe J forms an outlet for the vmelted snow and ice, which may be connected to a cesspool by hose and thence to the sewer. Said overflow-pipe J starts at the center of the bottom of the reservoir C, passing upward and out through the end of the place.

the device be covered with and surrounded by a bath of hot water, and, further, it will be seen that as the snow is thrown upon the said netting itwill fall.thence linto a bath of hot water. The hottest portion or" the Water derived from the melting of the snow will evi- .dently be at the top, the cooler and heavier portion descending in the reservoir C and passing out from the bottom of the reservoir ,upward through the overflow-pipe J and out of the reservoir at a level with the screen F. Hence it will be seen that there is a continuous circulation of water in the reservoir C and out through the overflow-pipe J, and also a constant circulation ofthe steam from the boiler A through the inlet-pipe G, coilH, and return-pipe l to the boiler. After passing out of the tank the pipe `J turns down and is connected, as described, by a hose lto a streetcesspool or any convenient and desirable The overfiowpipe J is provided at J with an air-vent. VSaid cock J is kept open to. a slight extent'in order to prevent Siphoning. .As thepipe J extends to apoint at the outlet below the point in the reservoir C at the inlet of saidpipe, it is evident that with out the air-vent or cock J the water would be siphoned out of the reservoir C as fast as the snow or iceV is melted. Y In operation said cock J' is kept open to break the Siphon, and when it is desired to empty the reservoir C of water the cock J is closed and the pipe J, acting as a siphon, empties said reservoir.

It will be observed that by the construction oil' the top D a pocket or chamber L is formed which prevents the hot water in the tank from splashing over when the vehicle-upon which the device is placed is moved. It will also be observed that the top D can be readily lifted od the reservoir C in order to cleanse said reservoir orto repair the same.

The operation of the device as a whole is as follows: The steam passes from the boiler A through the pipe Gr in the direction of the arrows and through the coil H, condensing and returning to theboiler through the pipe I.

IOO

The snow and ice are thrown into the top I) upon the screen F directly over the coil H, the heat from which melts said snow or ice, the Water resulting therefrom being carried out of the reservoir C by the overliow or outlet pipe J, as hereinbefore described.

It is evident that the top D might be made of sheet-iron with holes or perforations therein, to take the place of the nettingF, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire ,to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A device for converting snow or ice into Water, consisting of a reservoir C provided With an outlet-pipe J, so arranged as to take the Water in the reservoir C from near the bottom thereof and to conduct it out ofy said reservoir at a point near the top thereof, in combination with a heating-coil H having an inlet-pipe G and a return-pipe I said pipes G and I connecting f said heating-coil with a boiler A, substantially as described for the purpose speciied.

2. Adevice for converting snow or ice into water, consisting of a reservoir C, provided with an outlet-pipe J having a vent-cock J; in combination with a heating-coil H, having an inlet-pipe G and a return-pipe I, said pipes G and I connecting said heating-coil with a boiler A substantially as described for the .purpose specified.

water, consisting of a reservoir C, provided with an outlet-pipe J, and a top D, having inwardly and downwardly extending sides or iianges E, and a netting F, attached to said flanges E, in combination with a heating-coil H, having an inlet-pipe G and a return-pipe I, said pipes G and I connecting said heatingcoil H with a boiler A, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

5. A device for converting snow or ice into Water, consisting of a reservoir C, provided with an outlet-pipe J, and a top D, having inwardly and downwardly extending sides or flanges E, the lower edges of said flanges be ing connected by a netting F, the upper edges Of said`iianges being turned over to rest upon the sides of said reservoir C, in'combination with a heating-coil H, having an inlet Gand a return-pipe I, said pipes G and I connecting said heating-coil H with a boiler A, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

6. A device for converting snow or ice into Water, consisting of. a reservoir C, provided with a top D having a netting F attached thereto, and an overflowpipe J so arranged as to take the water in the reservoir C from near the bottom thereof and to conduct it out of said reservoir at a point substantially on a level with said netting, in combination with a heating-coil H, arranged below said netting F, having an inlet-pipe Gand a return-pipe I, said pipes G and I connecting said heatingcoil with a boiler A, substantially as de scribed for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit nesses.

EMILY STRAYER PALMER. lVitnesses:

CHARLES S. GooDING, HARRY M. RUGG. 

